Bloedbad van Zutphen

In the historic city of Zutphen, located in the Gelderland province of the Netherlands, lies a tale of turmoil and tragedy that dates back to the 16th century. The Bloedbad van Zutphen, or the Massacre of Zutphen, is a significant event that took place on November 16, 1572, during the early stages of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. This dark chapter in Zutphen's history, often compared to other massacres in Naarden and Mechelen, has left an indelible mark on the city and its collective memory.

The Prelude to the Massacre

The seeds of rebellion were sown on April 1, 1572, when the Geuzen, a group of Dutch Calvinist rebels, captured the town of Brielle. This event is widely regarded as the beginning of the Dutch Revolt against the Spanish King Philip II. The revolt quickly spread, and various leaders, including William of Orange and his brother-in-law Willem van den Bergh, took up arms against the oppressive Spanish rule. Van den Bergh was tasked with capturing cities in Gelderland and Overijssel and liberating them from Spanish domination.

By June 10, 1572, Zutphen fell into the hands of Van den Bergh's forces with little resistance, thanks in part to internal support from within the city. However, the initial euphoria of liberation soon gave way to chaos as Van den Bergh's soldiers looted Catholic institutions and harassed clergy members. The political support for Van den Bergh's campaign waned rapidly, especially in Zutphen, which was predominantly Catholic. The citizens were burdened with quartering soldiers and paying large sums of money, leading to widespread discontent and even flights to neighboring German territories.

The Arrival of the Spanish Forces

In mid-October 1572, William of Orange arrived in Zutphen with a contingent of soldiers, but his stay was brief. He left behind approximately 800 Walloon musketeers, soldiers who had previously fought under Louis of Nassau and had been granted safe passage upon the surrender of Bergen. These troops, however, rejoined the rebellion, risking death for breaking their promise not to fight against Spanish forces within a year. Their presence in Zutphen, a city of only around 4,500 inhabitants, exacerbated tensions and led to further plundering.

On November 12, 1572, the Spanish army, led by Don Frederik, son of the Duke of Alba, arrived at the gates of Zutphen. Don Frederik immediately demanded the city's surrender, promising mercy in return. The city's defenders refused, leading to a siege. By the evening of November 15, Spanish troops had secured positions near the Nieuwstadspoort, causing panic among the defenders. Some fled towards the Veluwe, while others attempted to negotiate a surrender the following morning.

The Massacre Unfolds

On the morning of November 16, 1572, negotiations for surrender were underway, but Don Frederik, incensed that he had not been directly approached, decided to plunder the city. The ensuing chaos lasted for approximately four hours. Soldiers violently coerced citizens into revealing hidden valuables or paying ransoms. Significant damage was inflicted on notable buildings such as the Adamanhuis, the town hall, and the fulling mill. The Wijnhuis was completely destroyed by fire, and the Agnietenconvent was looted.

Among the captured were the Walloon musketeers who had broken their earlier promise. They were all hanged from trees, a grim punishment for their defiance. The estimated number of those executed is around 450. The brutality of the massacre left a lasting scar on the city and its inhabitants.

Aftermath and Legacy

The aftermath of the Spanish capture of Zutphen in 1572 left the region behind the IJssel River in a state of unrest. The city changed hands multiple times until 1591, enduring further sieges and plundering. The departure of Spanish troops in April 1577, following the Pacification of Ghent, offered a brief respite. However, Zutphen's religious and political landscape remained volatile. The city joined the Union of Utrecht in 1578 under the leadership of Jan van Nassau, adopting a strict Calvinist policy and replacing Catholic officials with Reformed ones.

In 1583, Zutphen fell back into Spanish hands, experiencing another round of plundering and a harsh regime under Governor Vasquez Davila. The city endured two failed sieges before finally being recaptured by Maurice of Nassau in 1591, marking the end of its turbulent period.

The Cultural Memory of the Massacre

Unlike cities like Haarlem and Leiden, which quickly developed local commemorative cultures following their own sieges and massacres, Zutphen struggled to establish a shared narrative. The city's social and political instability in the decades following 1572 contributed to this lack of collective memory. The events of 1572, overshadowed by subsequent plundering in 1583 and the oppressive rule of Vasquez Davila, were not solidified into a ritualized remembrance.

Nevertheless, historians such as Emanuel van Meteren and Pieter Christiaenszoon Bor documented the massacre, perpetuating the narrative of a city that sought to surrender but was ultimately subjected to Spanish wrath. The tale of the Bloedbad van Zutphen, with its blend of rebellion, betrayal, and brutality, remains a poignant chapter in the history of Zutphen and the broader Dutch Revolt.